eNews
RSS Feed now available! You can keep up to date with all the latest news from us simply by subscribing to our feed using your RSS news reader.
Midweek News
Sunday
9am: In the age of the Da Vinci Code and a plethora of other ‘experts' who say the New Testament is inaccurate and pretty much fiction, how can we ever trust what we read? If we want to know about God, how can we be sure the New Testament gives us the right information? You will be surprised by the answers! Read ahead: Luke 1:1-4
5pm: It seems everyone has an opinion about what Christianity is. A religion. A culture. A way of life. A set of beliefs. But what it Christianity, really? Read ahead at John 1:1-18
Jack de Vries' Commissioning
In the 9am service that day we have the privilege in commissioning Rev Dr Jack de Vries as Ministry Training Coordinator of the CRCA. People from Redlands (Dave Groenenboom, Eddie Bos, Greg Tenni) are heavily involved in the national workgroup who identified, located, interviewed and moved Jack and Jeannie from Canada recently. It's a privilege that our congregation can get to do this. We'd love for you all to be there, Feb 10, 9am, to be part of this.
While not many of us have met Jack and Jeannie, Jack preached for us Sunday, Feb 03. He kindly offered to take Clinton's place for the service at short notice - so thanks Jack, you're a great blessing to us!
feedback: dave@redlandscrc.org.au
New Elders Eddie Bos and Greg Tenni will be commissioned in the 5pm
Nominations sought for a new elder
Peter Goodridge has decided to close his term as elder. We have been particularly blessed by Peter's role in the eldership and in the ministry team. He has been a great servant - we wish him well as he steps aside, and ask that the Lord will continue to bless him in his future ministry.
Elders Terms & Task
Redlands CRC is blessed with many who covenant with God, through Jesus, to pursue the way of living described below. They live and serve as Elders every day, and their lives would be no different if the title "Elder" were attached to their names. At times, however, God calls out some of these individuals to formally serve in the leadership of Redlands CRC as an Elder.
Qualifications
Elders are chosen according to biblical qualifications outlined in the New Testament (e.g. Acts 20:28; Rom 12:3-8; 1 Tim 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-9). They are to be examples to the congregation in terms of spirituality and Christian life. They fully understand, support, promote and protect the mission and vision of this community. The elder displays this with an enduring commitment to
Belong: drawing people into greater levels of involvement at Redlands CRC, and by encouraging the church to enfold and welcome them. This person is committed to community
Journey: leading people into a more mature expression of the Christian faith through the pursuit of teaching which is faithful to Scripture and congruent with our statements of faith. This person is committed to growth
Serve: by encouraging excellence in ministry, drawing people into service, by ensuring the church is prepared for its calling as God's people. This person is committed to ministry
Go: encouraging full participation of God's people into the mission he has given to us. Caring about the world God cares about, this person is committed to mission
Glorify: guiding people to honour God in all areas of life, in every place God takes them, at all times. They believe all of life is spiritual and that the church is called to have Christ at the centre of everything. This person is committed to worship
Responsibilities - Shared with others in the eldership:
- - Engaging in the theological, philosophical, and practical discussions about the kinds of things that Redlands CRC is and protecting passionately against what it is not
- - Shaping the missional identity of Redlands CRC and ensuring that all church structures and ministries maintain alignment with that identity
- - Living and breathing the missional identity of Redlands CRC; talking about it directly and indirectly, formally and informally in every possible situation
- - Participating in the development of a process for identifying strategic plans needed to realise the vision and establishing key success factors for attaining those plans
- - Providing accountability and oversight to the Pastors and the Ministry Team
- - Ensuring that the Redlands CRC community receives excellent pastoral care
- - Leading in prayer, spiritual devotion, and discipleship
Individual Responsibilities
- - Assessing the spiritual health of the church and taking responsibility to strengthen and nurture or move toward wholeness in specific areas as they are identified
- - Shepherding the staff and key volunteer leaders so that they are spiritually equipped to lead the community well
• - Fully engaging unique and sometimes difficult conversations with individuals from within the community who need pastoring or leading with respect to a specific concern or issue
RCRC Community - Welcoming Luncheon
Are you new to Redlands CRC?
Then you are invited to a Welcome to the RCRC Family Luncheon.
When: 17th February 2008
Time: 11am (straight after the 9am service)
This will be a time of getting to know one another, meeting the Pastors Dave and Clinton and the RCRC Elders - a time of fellowship and food and a brief overview of the church, its ministries and missions.
Please RSVP Sherri by 10th February 2008
0415 835 533 or e-mail communitylife@redlandscrc.org.au
We look forward to seeing you there...
"Let's start making a difference together"
Breakfast Meeting
The whole church is asked to come to a breakfast meeting on March 8 from 7:30am. This will be a great opportunity to share some time together, and hear something of the vision and plans for 2008 and beyond. We really would love for you to join us!
The main items of discussion and/or adoption will be
- - Approval to appoint a Ministry Administrator, who will assist with some administrative tasks with a view to helping ministry become more effective and develop in a more responsible manner (this will commence as a half time position)
- - Approval of tender processes for the extension to the current facility
• - Brief outline of various areas of ministry developing at RCRC
Prayer
- Remember all the groups starting with Simply Christianity this coming week - there are around 25 small groups working through this material: what a great opportunity to be strengthened in and challenged by the message of Jesus!
- Michelle Hudson's operation has gone very well, and she should be back in the ward at Wesley today. This is a great answer to prayer! Please continue to remember her and the family in her time of recovery
- Clinton hopes to be back in the office next week. You know how much we need to pray for healing, recovery, and God strength and grace to flow into and through Clinton & Tracy. So please remember these great co-workers here in Redlands, and pray that the Lord will continue to receive all the glory and praise for his ongoing work in their lives (PS Clinton's article in the latest Trowel and Sword is a ripper!)